Before we can talk about how wasps help figs pollinate, we need to know more about the different kinds of figs. There are no visible flowers on fig trees. A fig is a larger and fleshy stem that wraps the small flowers inside an inflorescence. ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture
We have all read how important pollinators are to an ecosystem. We have also heard of all the causes for the decline of several species, but maybe we haven’t sat down to think of what we can do to improve their health around our homes. ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Hornworms are immature moths that can be devastating pests, especially on crops in the Solanaceae family such as peppers and tomatoes. These moths are in the Sphingidae family. The tobacco and tomato hornworms are especially damaging during ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
2020: a year of a global pestilence, a record number of Atlantic basin tropical systems, global wildfires, suspicious Chinese seed packages, and toilet paper shortages. Enter, the “MURDER HORNET” – an invasive hymenoptera with a painfully ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Wildlife
By Ralph E. Mitchell Wasps are so amazing that I am going to continue on a roll with another beneficial wasp article. Imagine if you had a tiny automated drone programmed to find and kill cockroaches. How much would you be willing to pay ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease
Citrus greening (also known as HLB or Huanglongbing) is a bacterial disease affecting citrus production around the world, it was first found in South Florida in 2005. Citrus greening affects all citrus cultivars causing overall tree decline/ ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
As Africanized honey bees establish a stronger presence in Florida, it is crucial for public safety reasons that any swarms or feral honey bee colonies found nesting in close proximity to humans or animals be removed or eradicated by trained ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease
Potter’s wasps make the jug-like mud nests found on buildings, window sills, screens, and shrubs around the home. Although many wasps make mud nests, the jug-like pots of Potter’s wasp are not easily confused with those of other species. ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
If I were to ask you to list some pollinators that visit your gardens, butterflies and honey bees may come to your mind. But take a closer look! Do you see a shiny little green sweat bee flying from flower to flower? Or possibly a hummingbird, ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes